Floating tension for cableways



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FLOATING TENSION FOR CABLEWAYS Filed .Nov. 9, 192'? INME'TQR Gram-r WELEMN ill llli

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fimhd. lhllElLbUN', UF' W'C'UUVJER, BRITIS GOJLUMBM, CANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- H1. FENJDLEWON, 01F VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

arcane tension non cantuwavs.

application filed November a, race. serial No. aaaiia.

invention relates to improvements in floating tensions for cableways, which are particularly adapted for use in connection with what is known as skyline logging operations where a cable is stretched from one support to another, upon which cable log supporting carriages are run. In a cableway of this kind, the loads transported vary considerably and frequently when passing, a station or support, will impose so severe a strain both on the support and the cable adjacent thereto that frequent repairs are required. Damage due to the acute flexing of the cable adjacent a. station is particularly frequent where the cable is inclined and the load. caused to travel thereon by gravity The object of'the invention is to overcome the above noted defects, which object is accomplished by providing a float-ing tension toone end of a pivotally mounted arm and providing a hanger at the other, upon which the cable is mounted, as will be more fully described in the following specification, and shown in the acompanying drawings, in which V Fig. 1 is a general view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the hanger.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the cable showin the rogressive deflection as the load approac es a anger.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the disposition of the floating tension anchorage.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

'llhe numeral 1 indicates generally a cable or aerial track which extends froma suitable support (not shown) adjacent which the load ing is done to a further support adyacent the point of delivery. In logging operations the loading point is usually at a considerably greater elevation than at the point of delivery and the cable track is run from one support to another along a substantially regular gradient in such a manner that the load carriage and its load will move towards the point of delivery, either by gravity or bv the expenditure of a minimum of edort, and the unloaded carriage moved back therealong with a haul back line.

The intermediate supports for the aerial track 1, which form the basis of the invention are generally indicated by the numeral 2, and consist of a cantilever 3 swiingly suspended by a piece of cable at or other suitable means from a convenient tree 5 to one side of the track. The cantilever is arranged at a right angle to the track as shown in Figure 4: and is fitted at one end with a shoe 6 having an eye 7 on its underside for supporting a link 8 and from this link a hanger generally indicated by the numeral 9 is suspended. The hanger is of any suitable shape and is fitted at its lower end with a pivotally mounted saddle 10, which saddle is provided with a pair of plates 11 having a block of wood or other compressible material 12 therebetweeu, upon which the cable 1 is secured. The Wei ht of the cable track on opposite sides of t e hanger produces a bend at the saddle which cannot be accurately calculated and by providing a compressible support to the track, the support adjusts its curvature to conform exactly to the desired bend, hence no pinching or flattening of the strands of the cable develops. To the opposite end of the cantilever 3 a pulley block 13 issecured, through which a rope 14 is reeved, one end of which is anchored, as at 15, at a point to one side of thecantilever in the direction of the loadin point or the upper end of the track 1.. suitable weight 16 is suspended from the free end of the rope let. The ofiset position of the anchorage l5 depends upon the maximum weight to be carried on the proximate speed oftravel therealong. The function of the floating tension thus provided with an offset anchorage is shown in Figure 3,-in which diagram A represents the position of. the cable track 1 when the load X is approaching the saddle 10, which is also dia' grammactically shown at its normal elevation, As the load X a proaches closer to the saddle, as shown on iagram B, and a relatively angular catenary develops due to the proximity of the load thereto, which angularity is exaggerated in the figure to emphasize its function, forming an incline in the track. This tendency is counteracted as the saddle end of thecantilever 3 is lowered by the odset track and the ap- Wit or, side pull on the rope 14 which is mainas indicated in diagram 0. its the load leaves the saddle and enters upon the lower stretch of cable track, the weight 16 rres a further vided is not required.

It will thus be seenthat I have invented a floating tensional device for a skyline or aeri al track which automatically adjusts itself to an oncoming load ment of sharp inclines adjacent its points of intermediate support.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. An intermediate support for an aerial cable track comprising a pivotally mounted cantilever having a hanger at one end by which the cable is supported,andmeans at the other end for applying a' yielding downward tension thereon.

p 2, An intermediate support for an aerial cable track comprising a pivotally' mounted cantilever having a hanger at one end by which the cable is supported, a sheave at the opposite, end about which a rope is passed, one end of said rope being suitably anchored,

and the other being provided with a weight and prevents the develop capable of supporting the cable track and of yielding to it when a superposed'loadis passing therealong.

3. An intermediate support for an aerial .cable track comprising a pivotally mounted cantilever having a hanger at 'o'nejend by which the cable is supported, a sheave at the opposite end about which a rope'is" passed, one end of said rope being *suitabl anchored to one side of the cantilever, an the other being provided with a weight capable of supporting the cable track and of yielding to it when a superposed load is passin therealong.

4. An intermediate support or an aerial cable track comprising a pivotally mounted cantilever having a hanger at one end by which the cable is supported, upon which cable a loaded carriage is adapted to travel in one direction, means for applying a yielding downward tension upon the other end of the cantilever, and means for applying an endwise tension to the cable through the cantilever as the loaded carriage approaches the hanger.

Dated at Port Alberni, B. 0., this 24 day of October, 1927.

GUST NELSON. 

